DANDENONG Hospital could feel the strain of increased patient numbers if the Emergency Department at Casey Hospital closes in the evenings.
Rumours are rife among Casey Hospital staff that the Emergency Department will be closing its doors during the evening, pushing patients to other hospitals including Dandenong, adding strain to ambulance services and forcing night shift workers to switch locations or resign. Southern Health has not confirmed or denied the allegations, but one worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said she believed she could be forced to choose between changing hospital locations or resigning.
She said the Emergency Department at Casey Hospital was always busy at night, and the closure of it in the evenings would put a strain on nearby hospitals.
“It’s crazy at nights, sometimes people have to wait five or six hours. If they go to Dandenong, they may have to wait longer now,” she said.
“I am hoping both the federal and state government come to the party and find a solution. The whole health system needs a shake-up.”
Another medical professional who also asked to remain anonymous said not only would the closure of the Emergency Department in the evening affect patients and other hospitals, it could also increase wait times for ambulances who have to transfer injured or sick Casey residents.
“People will not have to travel further to go to other hospitals, meaning the ambulances will be out of the area,” she said.
“It puts an increased workload on paramedics and on other hospitals. Dandenong Hospital is already full, now it could be even busier as a result of the emergency department closure.”
Secretary of the Ambulance Service Union, Steve McGhie said the union expressed their concerns to Ambulance Victoria and the State Government.
“Any closure of beds and wards means ambulances will be tied up or utilised and unavailable for longer, which puts patients at risk,” Ms McGhie said.
“The State Government is playing a political game with the Federal Government which is disappointing. Both of them need to fix the problem or ambulances will carry the burden. Politicians are putting the politics before people’s lives and it should be the other way around.”
Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said ANF understood Southern Health was yet to make a decision about service cuts, if any, to the Casey Emergency Department.
Ms Fitzapatrick said that to alleviate some of the uncertainty caused by unconfirmed rumours, the union contacted Casey management to remind them of their obligations under the public sector nurses and midwives enterprise agreement to consult with ANF about proposed service changes.
“ANF can also confirm that while there is definitely a lot of uncertainty, at this stage, no theatre nurse positions have been lost. Casey theatres have already experienced permanently closed theatre sessions since 2011 due to Baillieu Government funding restraints,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
“Theatre nurses are currently being redeployed when theatres are closed or lists are cancelled. ANF is working closely with members and management during this very challenging time to ensure workforce stability is maintained.”
ANF has called on the leaders of both levels of government to negotiate and to fix to the current funding situation.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley and La Trobe MP Laura Smyth, both Labor, have blamed the Liberal State Government funding cuts for the possible closure.
Shadow Minister for Health Gavin Jennings said the Baillieu Government’s failure to adequately fund Casey Hospital is the reason for the emergency department cutting back hours.
“Shutting an emergency department in an area with a booming population will put lives at risk and the Health Minister, David Davis, could stop it from happening today if he chose to do so,” Mr Jennings said.
“Instead, people in Melbourne’s south-east will now have to travel further and wait longer in potentially life-threatening situations – this will heap more pressure on surrounding hospitals.”
Ms Graley said Casey Hospital last financial year had almost 50,000 emergency presentations and that sending these patients to nearby hospitals shouldn’t be an option.
“Frankston and Dandenong and other suburban hospitals across Melbourne don’t have the capacity to take the patients that Casey will turn away,” Ms Graley said.
Minister for Health David Davis did not reply to requests for comment before the Star went to print.
